Actively Travelling in Dumfries

The improvements to the junctions at New Abbey Road, Pleasance Avenue and Park Road, which link the west of Dumfries to the town centre, have become a well-used route for Active Travel– making it easier and safer for everyone to walk, wheel and cycle in the area.

On 27 and 29 November, representatives from the local community, including walking and cycling groups and pupils from Troqueer Primary School, celebrated the delivery of new and upgraded active travel infrastructure in Dumfries.

The Dumfries and Galloway Council-led project was made possible by over £800,000 of funding from the Scottish Government through Sustrans Scotland’s Places for Everyone programme, with match funding from the Council, SWestrans and NHS Dumfries and Galloway.

Since construction completed in June this year, the area has become a regular route for active travel. The Council’s Active Communities team organise weekly walks along the new footway to aid with health and wellbeing. I Bike Schools and Communities Officers can now use the route as part of their work to promote walking, wheeling and cycling to pupils, parents, and the wider community.

The Dumfries Power Walks group has also taken advantage of the improved infrastructure, and often use the path during their Monday morning 5km walks.

The addition of this route to the active travel network shows the potential for more walking, wheeling, and cycling in the area, and contributes to the delivery of the Council’s Active Travel Strategy 2 (ATS2).

Chair of Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Communities Committee, Councillor Ian Blake said: “The completed works have significantly improved the transport links in this part of Dumfries and with partners involvement we have demonstrated that a collaborative approach achieves numerous benefits to road users and the local community. Supporting Power Walks and the I Bike Programmes are ways to show people and communities there are other ways to get around and have more people actively travelling. This is a vital step forward in supporting the delivery of the ATS2 and shows the Council’s commitment to investing in sustainable and active travel.”

Vice Chair of Communities committee, Councillor Jackie McCamon continued: “This project delivers many firsts for Dumfries and Galloway including a new segregated shared use path that meets current national standards, and parallel cycling and walking crossings. Encouraging active travel from early ages and engaging with communities in physical activity, just as Sustrans I Bike and Power Walks are doing, will help to promote and drive change to make essential daily journeys accessible – empowering people to live healthier lifestyles, addressing the climate emergency and tackling inequalities. Dumfries and Galloway Council is sending a clear message that it values the well-being of its residents and prioritises their safety and convenience.”

Chiquita Elvin, Head of Programme for Places for Everyone at Sustrans, said: “We’re very pleased to see work finish on the improvements to New Abbey Road, Pleasance Avenue and Park Road, and to celebrate this with the local community.

“The new route has created a high-quality shared-use path for walking, wheeling and cycling, and improved connectivity between the hospital and town centre.

“This is an important achievement for Dumfries, and we hope that coupled with behaviour change initiatives like Sustrans Scotland’s I Bike programme, will enable many more people in the area to leave the car at home for their short, everyday journeys”.